William L. Graham Scholarship

Born in El Dorado, Kan., in 1911, William Graham sold razor blade sharpeners as a college student. During the Great Depression, he was able to obtain a $200 loan from a local bank that he turned into a fortune first in real estate and second in oil. In 1957, Mr. Graham took his wife, Marjorie, and their six children on an ‘educational’ world tour. It was during a stop in Bangkok, Thailand, that Mr. Graham saw several sights that most tourists don’t: poverty, misery and listlessness among the people there. After consulting with his wife during that trip, he announced to the Thai press that he would invest $5,000 each in five hardworking individuals who could convince him that they had a profitable idea that could become a successful small business. Mr. Graham was swamped with applications. He continued this practice for many years with various partners. For the remainder of his life, Mr. Graham was known internationally for his support of young, ambitious businessmen, especially those not given equal opportunities. Mr. Graham died in 1981. In his memory, the now-dissolved William L. Graham Charitable Trust established the William L. Graham Scholarship in 1991.